The entire NFL has pretty much agreed on at least one thing about the preseason. Established quarterbacks rarely see any time, if any throughout these four weeks. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is no exception. Head coach Doug Pederson is hesitant to play his signal-caller at all this preseason, according to Pro Football Talk.
While some might bring up the benefits of a couple of drives for all the starters during the preseason, this one is pretty much a no-brainer. After being drafted second overall in 2016, he's played at an elite level when he has been healthy. But that health is hard to come by for Wentz. During the 2017 season, the former North Dakota State player tore his ACL late in the year. Last year, back spasms ended his season in December. Despite being on a Super Bowl-winning squad, he has never appeared in a playoff game. The durability concerns are obviously there, so preseason action is a terrible idea for Wentz in particular.
Even more concerning is that there's no Superman-style backup for Wentz now. Nick Foles left for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, so this year is a Wentz-or-bust type thing for Philly. Backup Nate Sudfeld was receiving praise from coaches during camp but broke his wrist in the first week of preseason. While he's only projected to miss a couple of games, this is an indication of the risk of playing starters in meaningless games.
The Eagles have one of the most complete rosters in the league, but that means nothing without their quarterback. Coach Pederson better hope Carson Wentz stays healthy, as, without him, Philly is done for.
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